Air filter scent dispenser device

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a scent dispenser device for positioning adjacent an air filter for infusing the air passing through the air filter with a scent that includes an air filter and a scent dispenser device. The scent dispenser device further includes a base having a bore for allowing air to flow through the base, an adjustable valve having at least one air passageway for allowing air to flow through the adjustable valve from the base, a scented media disposed within the base, and a cap that is rotationally engaged to the adjustable valve and controls the flow of air into base.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION

The current application claims the benefit of the earlier priorityfiling date of the provisional application, Ser. No. 61/328,743, thatwas filed on Apr. 28, 2010 and this application is a continuation ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/096,414 filed Apr. 28, 2011 andentitled “AIE SCENT DISPENSER”, the disclosure of which is incorporatedby reference herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to an air filter scent dispenserdevice and more specifically relates to a scent dispenser device that isengaged to an air filter for infusing the air passing through the airfilter with scent, which is carried throughout the HVAC ductwork andinto the habitable portions of a structure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In any place where people gather there will be various odors, fragrancesand the like. It is common for homeowners and businesses to oftentimesstruggle to maintain pleasant smelling environments. Many odors fromsuch various things as cooking, personal hygiene products, the presenceof pets, and cigarette smoke can be present in a home or business. Odorsof these types are often difficult to combat. As such, a large industryhas developed dedicated to the removal and/or masking of these odors.Products such as scented sprays, odor eliminating cleaning products,fans, and air purifiers and filters are now commonly found in homes andbusinesses. In addition, scent dispersion products such as scentedcandles and electric scent dispersers are now commonly used and widelyavailable.

Despite the wide variety of readily available devices, products, andapparatuses available to help control or eliminate odors, each and everyproduct suffers from the same limitation, its use is localized to aparticular vicinity of use. Specifically and by way of example, use of ascented spray only affects the area in which the spray is used. So,another room in the house or business will not be affected by spraying ascented spray in a separate room. Likewise, electric scent dispersersand candles are only able to disperse scents in the room in which theyare used. If one desires to disperse scents in multiple locations orrooms, one must use a product or device in each room. This is both timeconsuming and expensive.

Thus, a need exists for a device or product that is able to disperse ascent into all rooms in a home or business simultaneously. Further, aproduct is needed that allows a homeowner or business proprietor toselectively dispense scents into the premises with the ability tocontrol the amount of scent dispersed. Still further, a need exists fora product that can remove odors or scents from the entire home orbusiness without having to be transported from one room to another.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a scentdispenser device that includes a base, an adjustable valve engaged tothe base, a scented media disposed within the base, and a cap that isrotationally engaged to the adjustable valve.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the scentdispenser device includes a retention ring positioned on an air filterfor receiving the scent dispenser device and retaining the scentdispenser device to the air filter.

In yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the scentdispenser device includes a base that contains at least one trough forreceiving the scented media.

In yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the scentdispenser device includes a cap that contains a post that is receivedwithin the adjustable valve for rotationally engaging the cap to theadjustable valve.

In yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the scentdispenser device includes an adjustable valve that contains a grill forallowing air to flow through the adjustable valve.

In yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the scentdispenser device includes an adjustable valve that contains at least oneinner resiliently flexible finger for engaging the adjustable valve tothe base.

In yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a scentdispenser device for positioning adjacent an air filter for infusing theair passing through the air filter with a scent includes an air filterand a scent dispenser device. The scent dispenser device includes a basehaving a bore for allowing air to flow through the base, a scented mediadisposed within the base, an adjustable valve having at least one airpassageway for allowing air to flow through the adjustable valve fromthe base and a second air passageway for allowing air to flow into thebase and contact the scented media, and a cap that is rotationallyengaged to the adjustable valve and controls the flow of air into thebase.

In yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the scentdispenser device includes a second air passageway that is a grilldisposed on the adjustable valve for allowing air to flow into the baseand prevents the scented media from exiting the base.

In yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the scentdispenser device includes a plurality of beads disposed within the base.

In yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the scentdispenser device includes a scented polypropylene disposed within thebase for infusing the air with scent.

In yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the scentdispenser device includes a base with a plurality of troughs forreceiving the scented media.

In yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the scentdispenser device includes a base that includes a bore with a pluralityof retention slots positioned around the bore and the adjustable valvecontains a plurality of inner resiliently flexible fingers that arereceived within the retention slots for engaging the adjustable valve tothe base.

In yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a scentdispenser device for positioning adjacent an air filter for infusing theair passing through the air filter with a scent includes an air filterand a scent dispenser device. The scent dispenser device includes a basehaving a bore for allowing air to flow through the base, a scented mediadisposed within the base, an adjustable valve having at least one airpassageway for allowing air to flow through the adjustable valve fromthe base and a second air passageway disposed on the adjustable valvefor allowing air to flow into the base and contact the scented media,and a cap that is rotationally engaged to the adjustable valve andcontrols the flow of air into the base. The adjustable valve may berotated from a first position to a second position, wherein the firstposition prevents air from flowing through the second air passageway andinto the base and the second position allows air to flow through thesecond air passageway and into the base.

In yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the scentdispenser device includes a stop positioned on the adjustable valve forpreventing rotational movement of the cap at a predetermined location.

In yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the scentdispenser device includes outer resiliently flexible fingers positionedon the outer edge of the adjustable valve for engaging the base andforming an engaged arrangement between the adjustable valve and thebase.

In yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the scentdispenser device includes at least one post disposed on the underside ofthe adjustable valve and a retention ring engaged to the air filtercontaining at least one bore for receiving the at least one post forengaging the scent dispenser device to the air filter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is illustrated and described herein with referenceto the various drawings, in which like reference numbers denote likemethod steps and/or system components, respectively, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an air filter and scent dispenser deviceof the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of an air filter and scent dispenser deviceof the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view illustrating the air travel through the airfilter and scent dispenser device of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a side exploded view of the air filter and scent dispenserdevice of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is another exploded perspective view of the scent dispenserdevice of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a top view of the scent dispenser device;

FIG. 7 is a side, cross-sectional view of the scent dispenser devicealong the line 7-7 of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is another side, cross-sectional view of the scent dispenserdevice along the line 8-8 of FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now specifically to the drawings, a scent dispenser device forengagement to an air filter is illustrated in FIG. 1 and collectivelyshown generally at reference numeral 10. The air filter 12 comprises amedia 14 that is composed of a non-woven web for blocking particulatematter carried by the air through common HVAC ductwork. The media 14 isfolded in accordion fashion to form a plurality of V-shaped pleats, andis housed in a rectangular, paper-board frame 16. The scent dispenserdevice 18 comprises a base 20, an adjustable valve 22, and a cap 24.

The base 20 of the scent dispenser device 18 may contain a plurality oftroughs 26. The troughs 26 may be aligned side-by-side and serve as thebottom portion of the base 20. The apex of each trough 26 may be engagedto a circular rim forming the top portion of the base 20. A locking hub28 is positioned within the center of the base 20 and contains acentrally located bore 30 and retention slots 32. The retention slots 32are spaced an equal-distance around the bore 30. As illustrated, thelocking hub 28 may contain three equally, spaced-apart retention slots32 around the bore 30, but any number of retention slots 32 may bedisposed on the locking hub 28 depending upon the desires of the user.

The base 20 is designed to retain a scented media, such as scented beadsor scented polypropylene. The troughs 26 as described above are bestequipped to retain a plurality of scented beads within the trough. Asair passes through the troughs 26 and over the beads, the air is infusedwith scent that then exits the scent dispenser device 18. In anotheralternative embodiment, the bottom portion of the base 20 may berelatively flat to retain scented polypropylene, which could be in diskor strip form. The beads may possess the same scent or may havedifferent scents that we mixed together produce a pleasant aroma.Alternatively, the scented polypropylene may contain only one scent, butmay also contain multiple scents that when mixed together produce apleasant aroma.

The adjustable valve 22 includes a plurality of inner resilientlyflexible fingers 34 and a plurality of outer resiliently flexiblefingers 36. The inner resiliently flexible fingers 34 are positioned inclose proximity to the center point of the adjustable valve 22. Theouter resiliently flexible fingers 36 are positioned in close proximityto the outer edge of the adjustable valve 22. Each flexible finger (34,36) has an upper portion and a lower portion and contains an innercollar 38 and an outer collar 40, as shown in FIG. 4. The upper portionof the flexible finger (34, 36) is engaged to the adjustable valve 22and the bottom portion extends perpendicularly downward from theadjustable valve 22. The outer collar 40 is positioned in closeproximity to the lower portion of the flexible finger (34, 36). Theinner collar 38 is positioned between the lower portion and the upperportion of the resiliently flexible finger (34, 36). The innerresiliently flexible fingers 34 are designed to be selectively securedto the base 20 and are positioned within the retention slots 32 disposedaround the bore 30 of the locking hub 28.

The adjustable valve 22 is generally circular in shape and the outerportions of the adjustable valve 22 extend beyond the periphery of thecap 24. The adjustable valve 22 may contain directions or instructions,as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 6. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, theadjustable valve 22 contains the terms “on” and “off.” These terms referto the position of the cap 24 for allowing air to flow over the scentedmedia contained within the base 20 and for preventing air from flowingthrough the scented media. When the indicator tab 42 of the cap 24 ispositioned in the “on” position, air is allowed to flow through thescented media contained within the base 20 and the air is infused withscent. When the indicator tab 42 of the cap 24 is positioned in the“off” position, air is prevented from flowing through the scent mediaand the air is not infused with scent. A stop 44 is disposed on theadjustable valve 22 that engages a rib 46 disposed on the underside ofthe cap 24. The stop 44 prevents the cap 24 from rotating 360°. Instead,the stop 44 only allows the cap 24 to rotate 180° between the “on” andthe “off” position.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the adjustable valve 22 contains a second airpassageway 48 that opens into the base 20. As illustrated, the secondair passageway 48 takes the form of a grill 48, having a criss-crossstructure. The grill 48 is positioned on a half of the adjustable valve22 and is semi-circle in shape. The grill 48 allows air to flow throughthe base 20 and over the scented media. A grill 48 is illustrated butany passageway that allows air to flow is acceptable. The grill 48allows air to flow into the base 20, while also retaining the scentedmedia, particularly scented beads, within the base 20. The cap 24contains a cover 50 positioned on the underside of the cap 24. The cover50 is composed of raised ribs and entirely covers the grill 48 when thecap 24 is in the “off” position. In other words, when the cap 24 is inthe “off” position, the cover 50 is over-top and completely covers thegrill 48, thus preventing any air flow through the grill 48. As the cap24 is rotated to the “on” position, the cover 50 is removed from thegrill 48 incrementally, thus allowing air to flow through the grill 48.When the cap 24 is rotated to the “on” position, the cover 50 iscompletely removed from the grill 48, thus allowing unrestricted airflow through the grill 48. A user may adjust the amount of scent in theair by rotating the cap 24 between the “on” position and the “off”position.

The frame 16 of the air filter 12 includes a grid that covers the backside of the media 14. The back side is meant to refer to the sideopposite the direction of air flow. The grid, as shown in FIG. 1,consists of parallelograms, generally rectangular or square shapes. Asingle circular area is positioned within the grid for receiving thescent dispersion device 18. A retention ring 54 is positioned betweenthe media 14 and the circular area of the grid of the frame 16. Theretention ring 54 is designed to receive the scented dispersion device18. The retention ring 54 contains a plurality of inner ledges 56 thatare designed to receive the outer resiliently flexible fingers 36 of theadjustable valve 22. The outer collar 40 of the outer resilientlyflexible finger 36 engages the inner ledge 56, forming a selectivelysecured arrangement. The inner collar 38 of the outside resilientlyflexible finger engages the outer edge of the base 20, as shown in FIGS.7 and 8. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the inner ledges 56 are spaced-apartand equal-distance around the inner periphery of the retention ring 54.The retention ring 54 and circular area of the grid may containcorresponding bores 56 for receiving a retention pin 58 that is disposedon the underside of the adjustable valve 22. When the retention pin 58is inserted into the retention bores 58 disposed on the retention ring54 and circular area of the grid, the scent device 10 is retained to theair filter 12.

The adjustable valve 22 contains a centrally located bore 60 with atleast one air passageway 62 disposed adjacent the bore 60. Asillustrated in FIG. 2, three spaced-apart air passageways 62 aredisposed adjacent the bore 60. It will be known to one of ordinary skillin the art that any number of air passageways 62 may be disposedadjacent the bore 60 for allowing air to pass through the adjustablevalve 22. The bore 60 is designed to receive a post 64 disposedperpendicularly downward from the cap 24. The post 64 is positionedwithin the bore 60 in a rotationally secure arrangement allowing the cap24 to rotate with respect to the adjustable valve 22.

FIG. 3 illustrates the direction of air flow through the scent device18. Air flows through the media 14 of the air filter 12 and a portion ofthe air flows through the bore 30 of the base 20. Afterwards, the airthen progresses through the air passageways 62 of the adjustable valve22 and contacts the underside of the cap 24. The air then ricochetsdownwards through the grill 48 (assuming the cap 24 is in the “on”position or is allowing air to flow through the grill 48) and the aircontacts the scented media, such as scented beads, located in thetroughs 26 of the base 20. After the air is infused with scent, the airtravels upward through the grill 48 and then exits the scent device 18through at least one arcuate exit hole 66 disposed on the side of thecap 24. If the cap 24 is in the “off” position, the air is preventedfrom entering the grill 48 and the base 20; therefore, the air travelsout of the arcuate exit hole 66 without being infused with scent andtraveling through the grill 48 and base 20.

Although the present invention has been illustrated and described hereinwith reference to preferred embodiments and specific examples thereof,it will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art thatother embodiments and examples may perform similar functions and/orachieve like results. All such equivalent embodiments and examples arewithin the spirit and scope of the present invention and are intended tobe covered by the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A scent dispenser device, comprising: a base; anadjustable valve engaged to the base; a scented media disposed withinthe base; and a cap that is rotationally engaged to the adjustablevalve.
 2. The scent dispenser device of claim 1, further comprising aretention ring disposed on an air filter for receiving the scentdispenser device and retaining the scent dispenser device to the airfilter.
 3. The scent dispenser device of claim 1, wherein the basecontains at least one trough for receiving the scented media.
 4. Thescent dispenser device of claim 1, wherein the cap contains a post thatis received within the adjustable valve for rotationally engaging thecap to the adjustable valve.
 5. The scent dispenser device of claim 1,wherein the adjustable valve contains a second air passageway forallowing air to flow through the adjustable valve.
 6. The scentdispenser device of claim 1, wherein the adjustable valve contains atleast one inner resiliently flexible finger for engaging the adjustablevalve to the base.
 7. A scent dispenser device for positioning adjacentan air filter for infusing the air passing through the air filter with ascent, comprising: an air filter; a scent dispenser device; comprising,a base having a bore for allowing air to flow through the base; ascented media disposed within the base; an adjustable valve having atleast one air passageway for allowing air to flow through the adjustablevalve from the base and a second air passageway for allowing air to flowinto the base and contact the scented media; and a cap that isrotationally engaged to the adjustable valve and controls the flow ofair into base.
 8. The scent dispenser device of claim 7, wherein thesecond air passageway is a grill disposed on the adjustable valve forallowing air to flow into the base and preventing the scented media fromexiting the base.
 9. The scent dispenser device of claim 7, furthercomprising a plurality of scented beads disposed within the base. 10.The scent dispenser device of claim 7, further comprising a post engagedto the cap and received within a bore of the adjustable valve forrotationally engaging the cap to the adjustable valve.
 11. The scentdispenser device of claim 7, further comprising scented polypropylenedisposed within the base for infusing the air with scent.
 12. The scentdispenser device of claim 7, further comprising a retention ring engagedto the air filter for receiving the scent device and engaging the scentdevice to the air filter.
 13. The scent dispenser device of claim 7,wherein the base contains at least one trough for receiving the scentedmedia.
 14. The scent dispenser device of claim 7, wherein the basecontains a plurality of troughs for receiving the scented media.
 15. Thescent dispenser device of claim 7, wherein the base contains a bore witha plurality of retention slots positioned around the bore and theadjustable valve contains a plurality of inner resiliently flexiblefingers that are received within the retention slots for engaging theadjustable valve to the base.
 16. A scent dispenser device forpositioning adjacent an air filter for infusing the air passing throughthe air filter with a scent, comprising: an air filter; a scentdispenser device; comprising, a base having a bore for allowing air toflow through the base; a scented media disposed within the base; anadjustable valve having at least one air passageway for allowing air toflow through the adjustable valve from the base and a second airpassageway disposed on the adjustable valve for allowing air to flowinto the base and contact the scented media; and a cap that isrotationally engaged to the adjustable valve and controls the flow ofair into base and the adjustable valve may be rotated from a firstposition to a second position, wherein the first position prevents airfrom flowing through the second air passageway and into the base and thesecond position allows air to through the second air passageway and intothe base.
 17. The scent dispenser device of claim 16, further comprisinga stop positioned on the adjustable valve for preventing the rotationalmovement of the cap at a predetermined location.
 18. The scent dispenserdevice of claim 16, further comprising outer resiliently flexiblefingers positioned on the outer edge of the adjustable valve forengaging the base and forming an engaged arrangement between theadjustable valve and the base.
 19. The scent dispenser device of claim16, further comprising at least one post disposed on the underside ofthe adjustable valve and a retention ring engaged to the air filtercontaining at least one bore for receiving the at least one post forengaging the scent dispenser device to the air filter.
 20. The scentdispenser device of claim 16, wherein the base contains at least onetrough for receiving the scented media.